Headers have slight red glow
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 424
Likes: 2
Headers have slight red glow
My new 383 has a slight red glow to the headers on start up. My ignition is set at about 12deg initial & 36deg total advance. I have a mech roller w around .600 lift & 238 duation @ .050, Holly 750 Hp w/mech secondarys, Hooker ceramic coated super comp headers,AFR 195 heads, 9.4 comp ratio. I checked the plugs and they look fine. The carb is brand new and Holly says not to mess with it to much initially as they are very close out of the box (plugs are good). Operating temp is around 200deg on the road. I read that low compression and a hot cam likes more advance, could this be my prob?? 36deg total seems to be what most are running.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 5,943
Likes: 3
From: Wildwood IL
Originally Posted by jimmygmartin
The carb is brand new and Holly says not to mess with it to much initially as they are very close out of the box (plugs are good). .
Your probably running very lean....
Eddie
The ORIGINAL and bestest
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 10,009
Likes: 240
From: Toronto Ontario
Toronto Events Coordinator
I put a new 770 Holley Street Avenger on my 406, and while on the dyno I found out it was very lean, ended up going up 6 jet sizes front and back to get it where it should be. get to a dyno to check your air fuel ratio asap
The ORIGINAL and bestest
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 10,009
Likes: 240
From: Toronto Ontario
Toronto Events Coordinator
I would put it on the dyno just to find out, I thought my carb was jetted fine too until the dyno day. If you think about it, how can any carb come out of the box ready to bolt onto any engine? Too many variables for that to happen. A dyno pull will give you an idea where the jetting is
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 5,752
Likes: 4
From: Austin Texas
Originally Posted by jimmygmartin
My new 383 has a slight red glow to the headers on start up. My ignition is set at about 12deg initial & 36deg total advance. I have a mech roller w around .600 lift & 238 duation @ .050, Holly 750 Hp w/mech secondarys, Hooker ceramic coated super comp headers,AFR 195 heads, 9.4 comp ratio. I checked the plugs and they look fine. The carb is brand new and Holly says not to mess with it to much initially as they are very close out of the box (plugs are good). Operating temp is around 200deg on the road. I read that low compression and a hot cam likes more advance, could this be my prob?? 36deg total seems to be what most are running.
Too lean at start-up? How is the idle mixture?..
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,665
Likes: 1
From: Ontario
Holleys a usually a bit rich out of the box...
Check this thread out:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1159550
Oh wait thats your thread...
Check this thread out:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1159550
Oh wait thats your thread...
The ORIGINAL and bestest
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 10,009
Likes: 240
From: Toronto Ontario
Toronto Events Coordinator
rich or lean, either way a dyno run with an wideband sensor will let you know 
you say your plugs are tan, and not white or black, this is the easiest way to find out!
you say your plugs are tan, and not white or black, this is the easiest way to find out!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 6,640
Likes: 287
From: Ann Arbor Michigan
I had the same problem with my 350 after rebuild. Turns out the timing was not advanced enough for the cam etc I used. Finially, I set the timing as Lars outlined. Short version... set the timing to 36 degrees at full mechanical advance (3500 RPM's or so) and never mind what the idle timing is. I started out at 12 also, now up to about 18. My headers were VERY red at first startup. Search the forum for Lar's "how to set timing" article.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
NOthing rong with dyno tuning, BUT.....
if it's dark out and you see red glowing...i'ts normal...
if you see yellow...i'ts NOT NORMAL...orange is getting close to problems....
IF you see that glow in daylight....you got issues...but at that point the plugs should show it also...
GENE
if it's dark out and you see red glowing...i'ts normal...
if you see yellow...i'ts NOT NORMAL...orange is getting close to problems....
IF you see that glow in daylight....you got issues...but at that point the plugs should show it also...
GENE
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 5,752
Likes: 4
From: Austin Texas
Originally Posted by mrvette
NOthing rong with dyno tuning, BUT.....
if it's dark out and you see red glowing...i'ts normal...
if you see yellow...i'ts NOT NORMAL...orange is getting close to problems....
IF you see that glow in daylight....you got issues...but at that point the plugs should show it also...
GENE
if it's dark out and you see red glowing...i'ts normal...
if you see yellow...i'ts NOT NORMAL...orange is getting close to problems....
IF you see that glow in daylight....you got issues...but at that point the plugs should show it also...
GENE
Think about it...the only thing between red hot exhaust and the outside world is 18 gauge steel....dull red=O.K., if viewed at night
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,216
Likes: 4
From: Smile, it's just the internet.
Optimum exhaust gas temperatures appear to be about 1,200 degrees.
Optimum A/F ratio appears to be 12.5:1.
Optimum TOTAL timing appears to be 36 degrees.
Temperature of bare steel, judged by color:
Red heat, visible in the dark.......752
Red heat, visible in the twilight...885
Red heat, visible in the daylight..975
Red heat, visible in the sunlight 1077
Blood Red .............................1200
Low Cherry Red .....................1375
Medium Cherry Red .................1425
Full Cherry Red ......................1500
Scale forms and adheres at about 1850
Optimum A/F ratio appears to be 12.5:1.
Optimum TOTAL timing appears to be 36 degrees.
Temperature of bare steel, judged by color:
Red heat, visible in the dark.......752
Red heat, visible in the twilight...885
Red heat, visible in the daylight..975
Red heat, visible in the sunlight 1077
Blood Red .............................1200
Low Cherry Red .....................1375
Medium Cherry Red .................1425
Full Cherry Red ......................1500
Scale forms and adheres at about 1850
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 424
Likes: 2
Originally Posted by CGGorman
Optimum exhaust gas temperatures appear to be about 1,200 degrees.
Optimum A/F ratio appears to be 12.5:1.
Optimum TOTAL timing appears to be 36 degrees.
Temperature of bare steel, judged by color:
Red heat, visible in the dark.......752
Red heat, visible in the twilight...885
Red heat, visible in the daylight..975
Red heat, visible in the sunlight 1077
Blood Red .............................1200
Low Cherry Red .....................1375
Medium Cherry Red .................1425
Full Cherry Red ......................1500
Scale forms and adheres at about 1850
Optimum A/F ratio appears to be 12.5:1.
Optimum TOTAL timing appears to be 36 degrees.
Temperature of bare steel, judged by color:
Red heat, visible in the dark.......752
Red heat, visible in the twilight...885
Red heat, visible in the daylight..975
Red heat, visible in the sunlight 1077
Blood Red .............................1200
Low Cherry Red .....................1375
Medium Cherry Red .................1425
Full Cherry Red ......................1500
Scale forms and adheres at about 1850
